This paper examines the traces of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work in today’s Fantasy literature. It is an indisputable fact that The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) is one of the most influential works of the 20th century and remains culturally relevant to this day. Today’s Fantasy literature and popular culture is so saturated and full of LOTR’s influence that it is difficult to imagine a culture without it. Even a person who has never read the original work or consumed any other adaptation of it will most likely recognise the names of Frodo, Gollum and Gandalf; and any modern reader of Fantasy literature and its branching genres like Science Fiction or Horror will know Tolkien’s name.
Yet it is not just the readers who were influenced by Tolkien, on the contrary, following LOTR’s wake a whole array of authors began to write their own works, featuring fantastical worlds filled with trolls, wizards, elves, dwarves and the like. Most novels on today’s Fantasy best-seller and classics lists such as George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld or Ursula Le Guinn’s Earthsea Chronicles, to name just a select few, share definite traces of Tolkienesque elements, and, it can be argued that even those who actively dislike Tolkien and his work and thus went on to create something decidedly different are still influenced by him, even if in a spiteful sense.
So, it is not a question of if there are traces of Tolkien’s work in today’s Fantasy literature, but rather to what extent. Thus, after explaining the chosen methodology and theoretical approach this paper will take to this subject, there will be a section dedicated to a pre-Tolkien world and the state of literature at the time, in an effort to fully understand the scope of Tolkien’s influence. Thereafter, a quick summary of both works will be given to introduce still unfamiliar readers to the subject matter that will later be analysed in detail. The next two chapters will deal with the analysis of all shared aspects and differences between the two works chosen, before lastly presenting a conclusion of all findings and offering a final verdict on the state of modern Fantasy literature.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
2.1. Determining the Scope
2.2 Fantasy Literature before Tolkien
3. Myth Making and World Building
3.1 Summary of Both Works
3.2 The Narrative Framework
3.3 Languages
3.4 Songs, Poetry and other Stories
3.5 Maps
3.6 Calendars
3.7 Cultures and Customs
3.8 The Otherworld
3.9 Religion
4. A Continued Dissection
4.1 The Little Man vs The Great Man
4.2 On the Importance of Names
4.3 Feminism and Fantasy Literature
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Primary Documents
Secondary Sources
Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the profound influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" on modern fantasy literature, utilizing Patrick Rothfuss’ "The Kingkiller Chronicles" as a primary case study. The research aims to determine the extent to which Tolkien’s established world-building conventions and narrative tropes are present in contemporary high fantasy, while simultaneously exploring how modern authors adapt or evolve these elements to suit new cultural and structural contexts.
- The evolution of world-building techniques (languages, maps, and myth-making).
- Comparative analysis of narrative structures and meta-textual features.
- The dichotomy between the "Little Man" and the "Great Man" archetypes.
- The function of nomenclature and "True Names" in fantasy storytelling.
- Shifting portrayals of religion and female characters in the genre.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The Narrative Framework
Tolkien was the first author to create a fictional world as hyper realistic as his Arda. One aspect that elevates his creation from others is the use of different levels of narrative, as defined as extra-, intra-, meta- and metametadiegetic by Gérard Genette's extensive typology of intertextual relations, stemming from his book Palimpsestes: La Littérature au Second Degré. Each of these refers to one level of the narrative, with extradiegetic designating the outermost frame of a story; intradiegetic describing the story inside the story; and meta- and metametadiegetic respectively designating the stories inside the story inside the story etc. (Genette 1993: 163). As the prefix ‘meta’ implies, the narrative structure becomes important in the discussion of metafictional features of the primary text. ‘Metafiction’ here is defined based on Patricia Waugh’s proposal in her book Metafiction that “metafiction is a term given to fictional writing which self-consciously and systematically draws attention to its status as an artefact in order to pose questions about the relationship between fiction and reality” (Waugh 1984: 2). The following section will highlight the different levels of narrative structure exhibited in both LOTR and the Chronicles.
Both LOTR and The Hobbit serve to hint at a much larger world behind the core stories that Tolkien created. Nevertheless, much of this larger background framework is presented through allusion and the usage of the aforementioned categories. The Hobbit especially, but LOTR as well features an authorial or heterodiegetic narrator. Here, the narrator exhibits the traditional features of an authorial narrator: omnipresence, omniscience and the ability to comment (Stanzel 2008: 123, 126 and 204). One example for this would be the narrator’s comment about Hobbits: “Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of the ‘Big Folk’, as they call us, and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to find” (Tolkien 1954: 1). Furthermore, LOTR also exhibits some signs of intradiegetic narrators, one example being Gandalf’s temporary takeover as the narrator when he recollects his travels and experience with Saruman in The Fellowship of the Ring. (Book Two, Chapter Two: The Council of Elrond).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the foundational impact of Tolkien's work on the modern fantasy genre and outlines the research objective using Rothfuss as a case study.
2. Methodology: Defines the scope of the study, focusing on Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and the comparative approach applied to "The Kingkiller Chronicles".
3. Myth Making and World Building: Analyzes shared technical elements such as narrative framework, linguistics, songs, maps, calendars, cultures, the Otherworld, and religious themes.
4. A Continued Dissection: Examines overarching thematic tropes including the dichotomy of heroic archetypes, the significance of names, and the evolution of female representation in fantasy.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the analysis, confirming Tolkien's status as the foundational influence on modern high fantasy and its commercial industry.
6. Bibliography: Lists all primary texts and secondary scholarly sources consulted for this research.
Keywords
J.R.R. Tolkien, Patrick Rothfuss, Fantasy Literature, World Building, The Lord of the Rings, The Kingkiller Chronicles, Narrative Structure, Mythology, True Names, Immersion, Otherworld, Literary Influence, Genre Evolution, Hero Archetypes, Mythopoeia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper systematically evaluates how the foundational fantasy elements introduced by J.R.R. Tolkien in "The Lord of the Rings" continue to shape and influence contemporary high fantasy, evidenced by the work of Patrick Rothfuss.
Which specific works are analyzed?
The primary focus is on J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the first two installments of Patrick Rothfuss' "The Kingkiller Chronicles" series.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to determine to what extent modern fantasy literature retains traces of Tolkien's influence and how these shared tropes have evolved in successful modern series.
Which methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a comparative approach, analyzing shared themes, narrative structures, and world-building motifs to draw conclusions about the current state of the fantasy genre.
What key aspects are discussed in the main chapters?
The analysis covers technical world-building aspects like maps, linguistics, and calendars, alongside literary themes such as the definition of heroism, the power of names, and the role of religion and women in fantasy.
How is the "Little Man" vs "Great Man" dichotomy defined?
The paper explores the tension between noble, illustrious heroes like Aragorn and the seemingly ordinary protagonists (such as Samwise Gamgee or Kvothe) whose humble actions ultimately drive history.
How does the paper analyze the importance of names?
It discusses the "True Name" trope, where naming signifies mastery over an object or person, and explores how multiple aliases serve to build a character's sense of history and gravitas.
What does the author conclude about Tolkien's influence?
The conclusion asserts that Tolkien is justifiably the "Father of the Fantasy Genre," as his work established the fundamental conventions upon which today's massive fantasy industry is built.
How does the portrayal of women differ between the two authors?
The paper argues that while Tolkien utilized traditional gender roles influenced by the 19th-century arts and crafts movement, modern works like Rothfuss' show a shift toward more active, nuanced, and independent female representation.
- Citar trabajo
- Ezra Magnus Mähler (Autor), 2020, The Influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy on modern Fantasy literature. Patrick Rothfuss’ "The Kingkiller Chronicles" as an example, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1301041
